Electrically operated valve



March 3, 1936. J. H. LARscHElDT A 2,032,621

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED .VALVE Filed Feb. 16, 1934 INVENTOR. /bHN/@ LHRsaHs/az BY gm nag,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated valves and the object of the invention is to provide a valve which may be turned by electrically operated means and which may be stopped in the open or closed positions by automatically breaking the circuit for the electrically operated means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve, including av ratchet-wheel for turning the valve, and reciprocating means for advancing the ratchet-wheel to turn the valve successively to the open and closed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electro-magnet and an armature, the armature being moved by energization of the electrod magnet to turn the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which is automatically stopped at the open and closed positions and which may be carried past these positions by means of manually operable control circuits.-

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve, including a ratchet-wheel for turning the valve, and an oscillating armature arranged to reciprocate a pawl for advancing the ratchetwheel.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully de- 'scribed and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the valve advancing toward the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic View showing the position of the parts as the valve reachesthe closed position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two terminals I and 2 are provided whchmay be connected to a source of current supply such asthe usual electric lighting circuit. A lead wire 3 extends from the terminal I and is wound about an iron core 4 to provide a primary winding. This lead wire 3 is provided with a portion 5 which leads to and is connected to the terminal 6 of a switch 1 and when the switch is closed the current may ow to the terminal 8 and wire 9, thence through a switch I and through the wire II to the terminal of a switch I2. When this switch is closed,

'the current may How therethrough to the opposite terminal and through the wire I3 to a switch I4, thence through this switch and through the wire I5 and through a switch I6. When the switch I6 is closed, the currentmay flow through the wire I'I to the terminal 2'thus Jcompleting the circuit.

. .An yarmature I8=is provided for the iron core 4 and is pivotally mounted at I9 while a spring Contact 23 is provided having an insulating block 2I and this spring and block tend to follow the armature in its movement. A contact Vpoint 22 is provided which is adapted to be engaged by the spring arm 2U when the armature is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 and this contact 22 is connected by a wire 23 to the wire 24 and this wire 24 leads to the terminal 8 of the switch l. The spring arm is also provided with a wire 25 which connects said arm to the wire 5.

An arm 26 is connected to the upper end of the armature I9 and is also provided with a hook end 2l, as shown. A circular ratchet 28 is provided which is engaged by the hook end 21 of the arm 26 and this ratchet 28 is connected'to the shaft 29 of a valve 30 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The valve 30 is connected in a conduit 3| and is adapted to control flow through the said conduit. 20

A pawl 32 is pivotally mounted at 33 'and is arranged to ride on the teeth of the ratchetwheel 28 and the pawl 32 is provided with a lug 34 adapted to raise the spring arm 35 of the switch 'I to close the switch as each tooth of the ratchet moves beneath the pawl.

The rst position of the armature I8 is shown in Fig. 2, at which time, the current will flow through the wires 3 and 5, thence through the wire 25 and spring arm 20 through the contact 22 and wire 23 and through the wire 24 to the terminal 8 of the switch l. As the switch 'I is open the current will ow through the wire 9 and through the switch II), thence through the wire II to the switch I2. The current then flows through the switch I2 and through the wire I3 and thence through the switch I4 which at this time is in the closed position shown in Fig. l and through the wire I5 and switch I6 and thence through the wire I'I back to the terminal 2 to complete the circuit. This energizes the electro-magnet and draws the armature from the position shown in Fig.'2 to' that shown in Fig. 1.

By means of the arm 26 and hook end 21, the ratchet-wheel is turned the length of one tooth by this movement of the armature. At the same time, while this tooth is passing beneath the pawl 32, the pawl is raised so that'the 'lug 34 raises the spring arm 35 of the switch I to close the said switch. This closing movement of the switch I takes place at about the time the spring arm 20 is moving away from the co'ntact 22 so that the current changes its path to 1low through the wire 5to the terminal 6, thence through the switch 1 and terminal 8 and through the wire 9"55 and through the switch II and thence through the other switches to complete the circuit as hereinbefore described. However, as the armature completes its movement and engages the iron core 4, the pawl 32 drops into the next tooth of the ratchet thus opening the switch 1 and breaking the circuit and, at this time, the electro-magnet is deenergized so that the spring 36 may draw the armature back to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the armature moves back to' the position shown in Fig. 2, the arm 26 is moved to the right to engage the hook end 21 in the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel. At the same time, the spring arm 20 is moved into engagement with the contact 22 so that the current may owthrough the wires 3 and 5 and through the wire 25 and spring arm 20, thence through the wires 23 and 24 to the terminal 8 of the switch 1 and thence through the wire 9 and through the switch Ill and through the wire I I to complete the circuit as hereinbefore described.

By this arrangement, an oscillating movement of the armatureis produced which is transmitted into reciprocating movement of the arm 26 so that the ratchet-wheel is advanced one tooth on each movement of the armature toward the electromagnet while opposite movement of the armature engages the hook end 21 in the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel for subsequent operation.

As will be noted from Fig. l, an arm 31 is secured to the ratchet-wheel and this arm is arranged so that as the ratchet-wheel is turned Vin a counter-clockwise direction it engages the Vspring arm 38 of the switch I4 and raises this arm to position to open the switch as shown in Fig.

A2. This Aarm is so positioned that at the time the switch I4 is opened the valve 29 is in the closed position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This breaks the circuit and stops the ratchetwheel from further movement. In order to start thedeviceoperating again,.i t.is necessary to provide a by-pass comprising awire 39 which is'connectedat 40 to the wire I1 and which is connected at the opposite end `to the terminal 4I of the switch I4. This wire is provided with a switch 42 which is preferably inthe form of a switch button which may be held down with the finger for a momentand may be then released. When this switch is closed, the currentmay flow through the wire II and through the switch I2, thence through the wire I3 to thecontact 4I and thence through the wire 39 backto .the Wire I1 and then to the terminal 2 to complete the circuit.

By holding this switch closed for a moment, the ratchet-wheel is advanced to move the arm 31 out from under the spring contact arm 38 allowing -this Contact arm to close `the switch I4,

' at which time, the switch 42 may be released to the open position and the operation of the device will continue as before until the arm 31 engages beneath the spring arm 52 of the switch I9. When this occurs, the arm -31 has been moved through a quarter of a circle thus turning the valve 29 to the open position and when the switch I0 is thus opened, ,the circuit is broken and the valve is stopped in the open position. In order to again resume movement of the Valve, it is necessary to provide a by-pass comprising a wire 43 which is connected to the wire 9, as shown, and this wire 43 is provided `with a switch 44 which is in the form of a switch button and the wire 43 leads from the switch 4 4 and .is connected to the terminal 45 of the switch I2. When it is desired to start the movement of ,the valve again, the switch 44 is manually closed so that the current may flow to the terminal 8 of the switch 1, thence through the wire 9-and through the wire 43 and switch 44 to the terminal 45 of the switch I2 and thence through the wire I3 and switch I4 and through the wire I5 to the switch I6. The current ows through the switch I6 and through the wire I1 back to the terminal 2 to complete the circuit. This re-establishes counter-clockwise movement of the ratchet-wheel and asrthe arm 31 moves out from under the spring contact arm 52 of the `switch I0, this switch is again closed, at which time, the switch 44 may be released to return to the open position and the operation of the vvalve will continue through the next quarter of the-circle.

The switches I4 and IG are utilized to stop the Valve in the closed position While the switches I0 .and I2 are utilized to stop the valve in the open position. The by-pass 43 conducts the current around the switches I0 and I2 while the by-pass L 3,9 conducts hthe current around the switches I4 and I6 by simply closing theswitch 42 or 44 as to any desired pointer position forthe switches 42 and 44 so that remote control maybe provided for the device.

The Valve 29 may be used in conjunction with any type of pipeline and for `the purpose of illustration I have here shownit in conjunction with a gas burner 45. If desired, asecondary winding 41 may be provided about the electro-magnet and the opposite ends of this winding are connected by means of the vwires 48 and V49 to the two terminal electrodes ,5B and. 5I. Bythis arrangement when current ,flows through the vprimary winding on theelectro-magnet, a current is induced in the secondary winding which produces a spark between the electrodes 5I] and r5I to ignite vthe vburner 46 when the `gas is turnedbn. This ignition device may be usedin conjunction with gas or oil burners .but lis not used 4in cases wh-ere'thelvalve isused simply ,for opening or closing a .valve in a pipe line where no .burner lis provided. In this connection it maybe noted-that either alternating or direct current maybe .used as with .directV current .the making .and .breakingo'fthe circuit will produce a sparkat ,the lectrodesi and Silas wellas with Aalternating current.

By this arrangement, .two .manually Voperable f switches `4'2 Vvand 4`4 .are provided in which the switch`42'maylbelabeled asthe Off switch Vand the switch 544 maybe labeled as the On switch. "When 'the valveV is turned to the Off position, it`is necessary to close'the switch A44; momentarily to vstart the valve in its movement .toward the On rposition rand when the .valve is stopped in the ,On or open position the `switch 42 may be closedmomentarily tostar't the valve inits :Inovement .toward the Off or closed position. lIf `desired, the switches -42 and 44 may .be vsnap/type switches rather ,than the push button type as described.

AFrom the foregoing vdescription it becomes evident that the device is very simple and eiiicient in operation, will not easily get out of order, lprovides an automatic :control which may be yremote from the .valve and provides .a `device which accomplishes the objects described.

Having .thus fully described my invention, its utility-and `mode Aof operation, `what I claim :and desire to secure b y Letters Patent of the United States isl. In an electrically operated valve, 1a valve, .a

required. The wires 39 and '43 may be extended ratchet-wheel secured to turn with the valve, an 7,5

arm having a hook end engaging the ratchetwheel, an armature connected to the said arm, an electro-magnet for said armature arranged upon energization to move the armature in one direction, a spring for moving the armature in the opposite direction, a series of switches positioned about the outer periphery of the ratchet- Wheel and connected in the circuit to the electromagnet, a contact arm carried by the ratchet- Wheel and extending radially beyond the periphery of the ratchet-wheel, said contact arm being adapted to engage the switches successively as the ratchet-wheel is turned, said arm upon engaging any switch being arranged to open the switchand break the circuit to the electro-magnet, the switches being so positioned in relation to the ratchet-wheel that the opening of any switch by the contact arm will stop the valve in a predetermined position, and a pair of by-pass circuits about the switches provided with manually operable switches for re-establishing the circuits after being broken,

2. In an electrically operated valve, a valve, a ratchet-wheel secured to turn with the valve, an arm having a hook end engaging the ratchetwheel, an armature connected to the said arm, an electro-magnet for said armature arranged upon energization to move the armature in one direction, a spring for moving the armature in the opposite direction, a series of switches positioned about the outer periphery of the ratchet-wheel and connected in the circuit to the electro-magnet, a contact arm carried by the ratchetwheel and extending beyond the periphery thereof, said contact arm being adapted to engage the switches successively as the ratchet-wheel is turned, said arm upon engaging any switch being arranged to open the switch and break the circuit to the electro-magnet, the switches being so positioned in relation to the ratchet-wheel that the opening of any switch by the contact arm will stop the valve in a predetermined position.

3. In a device of the character described, a ratchet-wheel, a valve connected to turn with the ratchet-Wheel, electrically operated means for turning the ratchet-wheel a tooth at a time, a series of switches positioned equi-distantly about the outer periphery of the ratchet-wheel and connected in the circuit to the electrically operated means, each switch comprising a contact member and an arm resting on the contact member and having an angularly extending end, an arm connected to and extending from the periphery of the ratchet-wheel, said arm being arranged to engage the angularly extending ends of the switch arms as the ratchet-wheel is rotated, the arrangement being such that as the arm of the ratchet-wheel engages ther respective switch arm it lifts the switch arm off from the contact member of the respective switch, the four switches being so positioned in relation to the ratchet-wheel that the valve is stopped upon each quarter turn by the engagement of the ratchet-wheel arm with the different switch arms.

JOHN H. LARSCHEIDT. 

